Locomotive construction



Dec. 5, 1933. H. M. PFLAGER LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l l l N VE/V T wff m/y/d f H 7- 7 o Dec. 5, 1933. H. M PFLAGER LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1933. H. M. PFLAGER 1,938,352

LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 il l Dec. 5, 1933. H. M. PFLAGER LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 5, 1933. H. M. PFLAGER LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H KAY Z Nl E/VTOE Arr Mp Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION Application December 2, 1929. Serial No. 411,067

19 Claims.

My invention relates to railway rolling stock and more particularly to locomotive feed water heater body construction. It is customary to construct feed water heater bodies complete and separate from the rest of the locomotive structure and then to apply the feed water heater body to the locomotive boiler, smoke-box, framing or other parts in such a manner that neither forms a complement of the other or contributes anything to the structure of the other.

One of the main objects of my present invention is to form one or more locomotive framing members in such a way that they form a substantial part of a feed water heater body structure whereby the amount of material required for the framing and the water heater body is minimized.

Another object of my invention is to strengthen the locomotive framing by means of the water heater body.

Another object of my invention is to provide for a short direct and protected conduit between the exhaust steam passages of the locomotive main cylinders and the feed water heater body whereby the exhaust steam is utilized at maximum temperature in heating the feed water.

Another object of my invention is to form the parts mentioned integral with each other whereby the labor of a substantial amount of machining and assembling is eliminated and a more rigid structure is provided, the same being free from connected joints which require constant inspection and maintenance in order to keep' them in proper condition.

These and other detail objects of my invention are attained by the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, side and front elevations of the forward part of a locomotive embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail top view of one longitudinal portion of the front end of the locomotive framing and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6- 6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an end view of the feed water heater body.

Figures 8 and 9 are vertical longitudinal sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 3.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a modification in which Figure 10 is a top view and section nal center line of the structure shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 13.

Figure 16 corresponds to Figure 14 but illus- 7o trates a further modification.

The frame of the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 includes spaced side members 1 mounted on the driving wheels 2 and engine truck wheels 3 in the usual manner and carrying the main steam cylinders 4, steam supply chambers 5, boiler support 6 and pilot beam 7.

Side members 1 are connected by upper and lower horizontal webs 8 and 9, respectively, form- 30 ing a substantially box-shaped cross section for the forward end of the frame, the forward portion of the frame coresponding to the front deck of the locomotive.

10 indicates the feed water heater body which 35 comprises a cylindrical wall 11, the lower portion of which consists of a depression 12 in the top web 8 of the frame and the end portions of which project laterally beyond the frame sides 1.

Short conduits 13 lead directly from the forward exhaust steam passageway 14 of each supply chamber 5 direct to the interior of the water heater body 10. Additional steam inlet conduits are indicated at 15, the same serving to admit steam to the body interior from the exhausts of air and water pumps (not shown) which will be mounted on the locomotive in the usual manner.

Longitudinally extending vertical webs 16 are located intermediate sides 1 ,of the frame and 10 serve to support the feed water heater and brace the horizontal webs 8 and 9 and other parts of the locomotive structure.

The heater body is adapted to receive a plurality of feed water tubes 1'7 in the usual manner and such tubes may be assembled and inserted as a unit in one end of the body as indicated in the right hand side of Figure 5. Preferably, the other end 18 of the body is formed integral with the sides of the side wall thereby eliminating an additional joint to be machined through which steam may pass to the exterior of the body.

In the structure described, the heater body forms a substantial brace between the sides of the frame intermediate the pilot beam mounting element 19 and the saddle structure between the steam cylinders. A portion of the heater body is below the level of the deck and the heater body and deck have the element 12 in common whereby less material is required than if the deck and heater body were formed separately.

Preferably, I utilize a one-piece casting to form the entire frame or locomotive bed, the steam cylinders, steam supply chamber, feed water heater body, and steam passages leading thereto from the steam supply chamber. It is within the spirit of my invention, however, to form one or more of these parts separately and unite them with each other into an integral whole by means of welding processes. Some of the broader features of my invention may be embodied in built-up structures connected in the usualway as I believe it 'is novel to mount the feed water heater below'the level of the top of the frame. This arrangement materially reduces the heater body surface presented to the air stream produced by the motion of the locomotive, and, hence, reduces the tendency to lower the temperature within the heater body. The short conduit 13 for the exhaust steam used to heat the water reduces the amount of condensation which will take place by travel of the steam to the heater body, particularly as compared with devices in which the heater body is mounted near the top of the smoke-box.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the side members 20 are united with a transverse cylinder structure including a boiler saddle of box-shaped cross section having a front wall 21, a rear wall 22, a bottom wall 23, a top wall 24, and this saddle portion forms a water reservoir or heater. The exhaust steam passages 25 lead directly from the ends of the steam supply chambers through this reservoir and the smoke-box saddle to the usual exhaust pipe mounting 26.

This arrangement provides a strong, rigid saddle structure and eliminates altogether additional water heater body wall structure and provides for the passage of all of the exhaust steam from the main cylinders directly through the body of water and the usual heating tubes may be eliminated.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15, the feed water heater body has a general cylindrical shape, for the reception of heater tubes, and is disposed longitudinally of the frame between the side members 27 and abreast of the main steam cylinders 28 and the steam supply chambers 29. The side wall 30 of the heater body cooperates with webs 31 to form transverse bracing for the sides of the frame and supporting structure for the boiler saddle 32.

The body is shown as inclined from the horizontal which makes possible the insertion and removal of feed water tubes from the front end of the heater body without unduly extending the opening 33 in the front deck 34 or locating the front end 35, for mounting the pilot beam, an undesirable distance from the cylinders.

The exhaust steam passages 36 leading from the steam supply chambers through the saddle merge at 3'7 and at this point have a bottom wall 38 which merges with the cylindrical wall 30 of the heater body, and an opening 39 to this wall provides for the passage of steam into the water heater body.

In this form of my invention, I show the rear end- 40 as being detachable from the body of the heater and removable through an opening 41 in the top of the locomotive frame. This construction may prove advantageous in connection with some forms of heater tube assemblies in which access to both ends is desirable.

' Figure 16 illustrates another modification resembling that shown in Figures 13 to 15 in some respects but the entire heater body 42, with the exception of its front end 43, is formed integrally with the frame 44, the top member 45 of the frame merging with the wall of the heater body.

In all of the forms of my invention, the heater body is located at a lower level than has been used heretofore which lowers the center of gravity of the locomotive structure and also makes possible the positioning of the heater body where it is substantially protected from air currents. The heater body is utilized to form part of'and brace the locomotive framing structure and the passageways for steam are shortened, in some forms, merely comprising an outlet from the usual exhaust passages directly into the water heater body. By making the heater body a part of an integral casting including other elements of the cylinder and boiler saddle and, preferably, the remainder of the locomotive framing or bed structure, I eliminate a large amount of machining and assembling labor and, at the same time, eliminate the creation of a number of joints which may loosen up and require frequent tightening or permit the escape of steam or reduction in bracing value. Substantially the same result may be obtained by welding together two or more parts of the completed structure and I consider such forming of an integral whole as within the spirit of my invention.

Obviously, the details of my invention maybe varied in many ways other than those illustrated and I contemplate thev exclusive use of the subject matter of my invention, as claimed, irrespective of modifications in the structure.

I claim:

1. In combination, locomotive underframe front end framing structure, and a water heater body integral therewith and extending transversely thereof, the lower portion of said heater body forming a part of the upper portion of said structure.

2. A locomotive underframe having a front deck and a water heater body integral with said frame and extending transversely thereof, the wall of said heater body forming a part of the upper wall of said deck.

3. A locomotive front deck structure having a depressed portion forming a water heater body element.

4. In a locomotive, a cylinder saddle, a pilot beam, and a water heater body having at least a portion of its wall located below the level of the lib top of said beam and between the same and said saddle.

5. In a locomotive, a front deck, and a water heater body located in part below the top of said deck and immediately adjacent said deck.

6. A locomotive front end structure comprising spaced side members, intermediate longitudinal members substantially parallel with said side members, a front end member, a top member and a bottom member, said top member having an 150 arcuate depression extending transversely of the structure, and extensions on said depressed portion forming therewith a cylindrical body adapted to receive water heating tubes.

7. In a locomotive front end structure, side members, a steam supply chamber carried by one of said side members, a water heater body extending transversely of said side members and beneath the upper surfaces thereof and located at a point spaced from the end of said steam supply chamber, and a steam conduit leading from said supply chamber to said water heater body, said steam supply chamber, conduit and water heater body being integral with each other.

8. In a locomotive front end structure, side members, an end member connecting said side members, and a water heater body adjacent said end member and located in part below the level of the top of said end member.

9. In a locomotive front end structure, a steam supply chamber on one side of said structure, an exhaust steam passage extending from said chamber to substantially the longitudinal center of said structure, a water heater body located at a point spaced from said passage, and a conduit connecting said passage and said body, said passage, conduit and body being integral with each other.

10. In combination, locomotive main frame side members, a cylinder and boiler saddle between said side members, cylinders and control valve' chambers at the sides of said saddle, a water heater body located in front of said saddle with its lower part merging with said side members, and steam conduits from said chambers and merging with the upper part of said heater body.

11. A structure as specified in claim 10 comprising an integral cast metal unit in which said saddle, side members, heater body, and conduits form a rigid frame.

12. In combination, a steam supply chamber for a locomotive main cylinder, a steam exhaust passage leading therefrom, and a water heater body surrounding said passage, all formed integrally.

13. In a locomotive cylinder saddle structure, a boiler support, a steam control valve chamber, and an exhaust steam passage leading from said chamber inwardly and upwardly through said support, the body of said support constituting a feed water reservoir surrounding said passage.

14. In combination, a locomotive underframe member forming a closed compartment for boiler feed water, and a steam passageway leading through said compartment and sealed therefrom.

15. A locomotive underframe front end structure including side members and a feed water heater body extending to and bracing portions of said members beneath the upper surfaces thereof.

16. A locomotive underframe structure comprising a main frame member, a smoke box support, and a feed water heater body extending longitudinally of said member through said support.

17. A locomotive underframe structure comprising a main frame member, a cylinder saddle, and a feed water heater body extending longitudinally of said member through said saddle and beneath the upper surface of said member.

18. A locomotive underframe structure comprising a main frame member, a cylinder saddle, and a feed water heater body extending longitudinally of said member through said saddle, said body being inclined longitudinally and the lowest part thereof being located beneath the upper surface of said member.

19. A locomotive front end structure comprising a cylinder saddle, a front deck and a feed water heater body extending longitudinally of said member through said saddle, the rear part of said body being located beneath the level of said deck and the forward portion thereof extending above the level of said deck.

H. M. PFLAGER. 

